The mutton snapper is a sturdy, reddish-bronze lutjanid found in tropical and subtropical Atlantic waters, typically around reefs and rocky outcrops from shallow bays down to 60 metres or more. Recognise it by its robust build, relatively large eye, and a pale stripe running from snout to tail; breeding males often show a dark blotch on the flank. These snappers are solitary or in small groups, feeding on fish and crustaceans, and are prized by both recreational and commercial fisheries across the Caribbean and western Atlantic.
Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Teleostei
- Order
- Eupercaria incertae sedis
- Family
- Lutjanidae
- Genus
- Lutjanus
Most likely to be seen at
Sites where its range and habitat make it likely — not yet confirmed by a logged sighting.